Gin Blossoms

"The Poop Cruise Did Us No Favors," Says Mark McGrath Explaining Cruise Cancellation

Of course, it was too good to be true. The '90s radio rock wet dream of the Mark McGrath and Friends Cruise (haha, water, get it?) will not set sail. The three-day seaward journey back in time that promised strains of inoffensive alt-rock between rounds of pool deck limbo was given the mayday call T ... More >>

We Found a 36-Year-Old KDKB Local Compilation -- Here's What We Thought Of It

Doing some crate digging at Tracks in Wax, I uncovered a rather strange relic: an album showcasing local music. The cover was a faded license plate with the words Arizona Sounds Vol. 1, sponsored by KDKB 93.3 FM. It was printed in 1977. As a Phoenix native, I've always had an interest in this spraw ... More >>

Poll: What's Your "Forbidden Song"?

I think everyone has a "Forbidden Song." What's that? It's like, whenever I hear the tune "Freebird," whether in the car or at some party or whatever, I have to turn it off. It's like an obsessive-compulsive decision and I will be forever agitated until that song is no longer playing. I'm not psy ... More >>

Mark McGrath & Friends Cruise: Smashmouth, Gin Blossoms, & More '90s Bands -- On a Boat!

Stretch your sea legs and sharpen those soul patches: Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath is hosting the biggest 90's radio rock revival of all time upon the warm waves of the Atlantic, and even from here I can smell the salty goodness of Clinton-era prosperity. See also: Should We Feel Bad About '90s Nostal ... More >>

Street-Punk Band The Glass Heroes Refuses to Die

Paul Collins & Peter Case, Rhythm Room, 3/13/12

​See also: Paul Collins and Peter Case on the First Time They Heard the Ramones and The State of Power Pop Peter Case and Paul Collins Rhythm Room Tuesday, March 13 "I'm playing on the streets everyday...I lose my voice, get sunburned, my fingers bleed, and I never make much more than a few doll ... More >>

New Year's Eve 2011: What to Do and Where to Go on the Last Night of the Year

Puppet Show

Local Performer and Promoter Anamieke Quinn Talks About the State of Arizona's Music Scene

Whatever your stance on Arizona's music scene, you probably have an opinion or two on the matter. Some of the more opinionated people happen to be local musicians. Anamieke Quinn is one such person who has surveyed the Valley's landscape only to find it leaves much to be desired. Quinn is an activ ... More >>

America at Wild Horse Pass Casino, 7-15-2011

America, though they have aged a bit since this photo was first taken ​America Wild Horse Pass Casino Friday, July 15, 2011 Sure, the venues that America is likely to play these days have gotten smaller, but it doesn't mean that the band isn't still capable of putting on a good show. The crow ... More >>

The Love Me Nots @ Foundry on First

Roots Rockers Flathead Have Played with Everyone

GreenStock™ Expo -- Stupidly Scheduled for the Same Weekend as Fall Frenzy -- Canceled

​Local rockers Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers tweeted the unsurprising news that the GreenStock has been canceled this afternoon.I've been unable to confirm this with organizers -- who don't seem to have voicemail and haven't answered an e-mail -- but there's little reason to doubt it's true.

Gig at The Vig, Sportsman's Happy Hour and RWB Strawberries in Today's Eater's Digest

grinandbakeit.com​Hungry for for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Gig at The VigTonight and every Wednesday night or the rest o the summer, join The Vig and the Mill Avenue All-Stars on the patio for a free concert. The Mill Avenue All-Stars are made up o ... More >>

Sand Rubies, a.k.a. The Side Winders at Sail Inn: Legendary Tucson Jangle-Poppers Host Reunion Show

​You can't listen to more than 30 seconds of Sand Rubies' 1990 single "We Don't Do That Anymore" before it become obvious that the Gin Blossoms weren't the first Arizona band doing the jangle-pop thing.Tucson's Sand Rubies -- originally called The Side Winders before a North Carolina cover band su ... More >>

Gin Blossoms, Blessthefall, The Love Me Nots and More Have Big Plans for the Valley

What does a band do if its tour bus hits a deer? Ask Blessthefall, who at least pretend to deal wit that situation in the latest dispatch from the Bangover tour, currently selling out shows in Canada. How do we know it's Canada? Just listen for the part where the band goes on and on about finding a ... More >>

Big Star's Alex Chilton Dies at 59

Alex Chilton.​Alex Chilton, singer and guitarist of '70s rock band Big Star died last night in New Orleans at age 59. The cause of death is suspected to be a heart attack, and Big Star was set to play at this year's SXSW.The band is cemented in history as a highly influential with a cult following ... More >>

Brad Perry Plays Tonight's Opening of Long Wong's at the Firehouse

He doesn't sling the temperature no more, but Brad Perry does know how to work a six-string.​When word broke a few weeks back of the impending return of Long Wong's to Tempe, I'm sure Valley music lovers had visions of the Gin Blossoms or Dead Hot Workshop headlining its grand opening. Sorry to d ... More >>

Local Vintage

The legendary Doug Hopkins.​This opening of Long Wong's on Apache and McClintock has certainly stirred up conversation. Its authenticity in regard to the original Long Wong's is in question, and there's even debate as to whether it should be referred to as a "re-opening" or a "grand opening." No ... More >>

You Asked for It: Prehab

PrehabOne is Too Many (A Thousand Is Never Enough)Self-ReleasedIf Prehab's One is Too Many (A Thousand Is Never Enough) sounds a little too polished to be a debut, there's good reason. The guys spent five years as The Bedspins in the mid-90s, racking up 500 shows and serving as songwriters for the p ... More >>

10 Emo Songs That Don’t Suck

The Old Mill: Los Guys, and Tramps & Thieves at Last Exit on Friday, June 13th

Director Nicholas Holthaus on his new documentary Mill Ave. Inc.

Greyhound Soul

Tonight and Every Night
(re-silence Records)

Kingfish Fiasco

sleeping and i hear you
(self-released)

Funky Town

More syrup than jam

Living Hell

Dante's Arizona premières at Alwun House

Legend City

A Hall of Fame is born

BEST PLACE TO BUY USED CDs

Zia Record Exchange

Here Comes the Groom

Now that they have that Mexico bug out of their system, Ticker Tape Parade talk about achieving musical matrimony

Magic Dragon

Phoenix Jazz Workshop brings the jam back to the East Valley

Sugar High

Saccharin & Trust

In 'n' Out

The Gas Giants split; Jimmy Eat World lives up to its name; legends Hazlewood and Strummer return to the Valley

Road Weary

The Grievous Angels bid goodbye with a bleak chronicle of a traveling band

Train Keeps A-Rollin'

The Piersons carry on as a trio for CD release party and for their sidelined brother

2000 Maniacs

The hits just keep on coming at Phoenix City Hall

Treading in the Ether

Robin Wilson and the Gas Giants have a phantom hit

Chimes at Midnight

Snafu 2000

Phoenix officials told volunteers planning an expensive millennial downtown bash to think big. It seems as though nobody was thinking at all.

Concealed Weapons

Despite some misfires, The Pistoleros keep looking for a break and say that rumors of their demise are greatly exaggerated

Life After Death

As we reach the fifth anniversary of Doug Hopkins' suicide, his best music remains unheard by all but a few friends

Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Twangy

Roger Clyne and P.H. Naffah embark on a post-Refreshments career with The Peacemakers

9 Volt Leads the Charge

Tempe power trio proves that it really is a fine line between clever and stupid

Good Year for Bad Days

Their record company just dumped them; Fiesta Bowl sponsors think they're dips; but Tempe still love its Refreshments

Wax On

SIMMONS SAYS

ANGELS AND INBREDS

IS IT EARL C. WHITEHEAD AND THE GRIEVOUS ANGELS OR IS IT THE INBREDS? YES TO BOTH.

RICH? YES, AND NO

EX-SAND RUBY RICH HOPKINS MISSED THE BIG TIME ONCE, BUT HIS LUMINARIOSMAY PUT HIM IN A NEW LIGHT

REMEMBERING DOUG HOPKINS